Northern Ireland

Glentoran FC manager Mick McDermott's wife to be granted visa to return home to family

Glentoran FC manager Mick McDermott with his wife Karla McDermott
Glentoran FC manager Mick McDermott with his wife Karla McDermott Glentoran FC manager Mick McDermott with his wife Karla McDermott

THE wife of Glentoran FC manager Mick McDermott has had her visa application to return to her family in Northern Ireland granted following an initial refusal.

Mother-of-four Karla McDermott (43) has been in the Middle East since late September awaiting a decision from immigration officials.

She had to fly to Dubai in order to trigger her visa application, and feared there were "no guarantees" she would be granted permission to live in Northern Ireland.

Mrs McDermott, who was born in California and has a US passport, had lived in Dubai while her husband was working in the United Arab Emirates city.

The couple, who married in 1996, moved with their four children to Newtownabbey earlier this year when Belfast man Mr McDermott became manager of Glentoran.

On Thursday, Mrs McDermott's visa application was refused. However, her solicitor said that after challenging the decision and resubmitting documents, the Home Office yesterday apologised and confirmed the visa would be granted.

Sinead Marmion, of Belfast-based firm Phoenix Law, said the series of events was "utterly symptomatic of the hostile environment of our immigration system in the UK".

"I am now glad that someone in the Home Office has now seen sense and has allowed Karla to return to her family," she said.

"It is regrettable that these events have had to happen in the first place. I look forward to seeing Karla back with her family in the near future."

Mr McDermott also expressed concerns over the visa applications process.

He said he was "glad, that despite this rollercoaster of events, my wife will rejoin our family".